9. V Festival

The V Festival is the people’s festival. Richard Branson brought his famed UK concert series to Australia just over two years ago to much fanfare. The decidedly Q Magazine slant of the lineups (think Queen of the Stone Age, Snow Patrol, The Killers) has given the festival its own niche among powerhouses like the Big Day Out. Despite often running at a loss, the V Fest is well-known for its brilliant event management, with little congestion and top-notch staging. The 2010 event is currently in limbo, with publicity beast Michael Coppel deciding to cut ties. Fingers crossed for a hasty resolution.